Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to reduce animal testing on decapod crustaceans in scientific research.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

The use of animals in research is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which covers all living vertebrates and cephalopods but does not currently include decapods. Government strategy will cover species protected under ASPA, but this does not limit additional species from being protected as understanding of sentience evolves.